UNC Wilmington defeats Stony Brook 71-75

UNC Wilmington Edges Stony Brook in Thrilling Comeback Victory

In a dramatic turn of events, the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks erased a 22-point halftime deficit to defeat the Stony Brook Seawolves 75-71 on the road at Stony Brook Arena.

The home team's early dominance set the tone for the first half, as Stony Brook led 43-21 at intermission. The Seawolves' Erik Pratt led the charge with 24 points, including 3-8 three-point shooting, on 50% from the field. Tomas Valentiny added six rebounds and two assists in the first half.

However, UNC Wilmington refused to give up. The Seahawks stormed back in the second half, outscoring Stony Brook 54-28 behind a balanced attack led by Nolan Hodge's 22 points. Patrick Wessler chipped in with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Greedy Williams dished out seven assists.

The largest lead of the game came when Stony Brook's Andrej Shoshkikj scored 8 points in the second half, but UNC Wilmington kept pace. The Seahawks' largest lead was a mere 7-3 early on, a far cry from the 22-point deficit they faced at halftime.

In the end, it was Hodge who led the charge down the stretch, scoring 4 of his 22 points in the final minutes to seal the win for UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks' bench played a crucial role, outscoring Stony Brook's reserves 15-5.

The game was marked by poor three-point shooting from both teams, with Stony Brook making just 34% of their attempts and UNC Wilmington converting 47.1%. However, it was the Seahawks' ability to limit turnovers and capitalize on fast break opportunities that ultimately proved decisive.

UNC Wilmington's victory marks a crucial conference win for the Seahawks, who move one step closer to securing a playoff spot. The loss drops Stony Brook to 0-2 in conference play, but the Seawolves will look to bounce back against a tough opponent next week.